Facebook has posted a new guide for survivors of domestic abuse, detailing steps to protecting safety and privacy while still being able to connect with family and friends on the social network.

Facebook teamed with the National Network to End Domestic Violence to come up with the guidelines, which can be found at the Facebook Family Safety Center, facebook.com/safety.

“We created this guide to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking learn how to use Facebook in a way that ensures that they stay connected with friends and family, but also control their safety and privacy to help prevent misuse by abusers, stalkers, and perpetrators to stalk and harass,” said a blog post from Cindy Southworth, vice president of the Washington, D.C., group.

Some might suggest that using a fake profile name or not even using the social network at all may be the best course of action. But in most cases, neither is true, Southworth said in an interview during a break in the group’s three-day technology safety summit in San Jose.

“It’s not acceptable to tell survivors of domestic violence just to give up their technology,” she said. “What she really needs is that he not able to contact her and if he does, that he is held accountable.”

A domestic abuser often tries to gain power and control by isolating the victim from friends and family, she said.

“One of the things we advocate is to rekindle connections with friends and family and jobs,” she said. “Some of that can be through Facebook, some of that can be through in-person activities. We don’t think any victim needs to choose to be offline.”

Although a small number of survivors might need to change their identities, she said the group is not recommending that course of action as much as before because of it also brings on unintended consequences, such as the loss of a person’s credit history or a nursing license needed to work.

And when there’s a legal protective order preventing contact, repeated Facebook posts by the abuser could provide the “compelling digital evidence” needed to convince an officer or judge of a violation, she said.

The “Guide for Survivors of Abuse” is generally applicable to any Facebook member to make sure they protect their online privacy and safety, even in a publicly social world.

The guide also advises caution when accepting a new friend request.

“Unfortunately, some abusive individuals use clever tactics to gain access to a victim’s information,” the guidelines said. “In some instances, abusive individuals maliciously create accounts impersonating a friend of the person they want to connect with.”